Tampa/St. Pete FL - Fried Mullet? Other Good Eats?

Tampa/St. Pete FL - Fried Mullet? Other Good Eats?

I'm going to be travelling to Tampa/St. Pete Florida in a couple of weeks, and I'm dying for some good fried mullet. I haven't had any since I moved from Florida 15 years ago. Any suggestions? Any suggestions on other good places to eat in the area? TIA!

I haven't had any good fried mullet since the seafood festival at Cedar Key this past October. It was to die for. It's very rare that you get fried fish so hot you MUST let it cool before eating. Haven't been to the Tampa area for about a year, but have some contacts and will see what I can find out. I've seen this particular request here before so you should get some good suggestions!

As far as other eats in St Pete, my dad is taking me to Mazzaro's Italian Bakery for a dining/shopping spree for my birthday tomorrow. Am very excited and also ashamed I haven't been there yet. I will give a full Roadfood report on Mazzaro's sometime this weekend!

Ted Peters is very good. As I have written numerous times here before. But you should know that they only make smoked mullet and not fried mullet. I can't even name off a single place I know that still makes fried mullet.

Ted Peters is very good. As I have written numerous times here before. But you should know that they only make smoked mullet and not fried mullet. I can't even name off a single place I know that still makes fried mullet.

Just wanted you to know.

John

Ted Peters is great, and Yes, it only has smoked mullet. But since smoked mullet is much more difficult to prepare than fried mullet, a completely different taste, there arguably are more places serving fried mullet than smoked. Mullet is a basic "native" food of Florida, and I'd bet there are hundreds of places serving it daily in the TB area. You won't find it in classy joints, or Cuban restaurants, but certainly most "meat and three" places, or any soul food restaurant will have mullet, if it's available.

IMHO, there is no equal to the exquisite taste of simply prepared fresh mullet - and when you add to this the fact that is perhaps the least expensive fish in the sea, it wins in a landslide! I take great delight in knowing that while the elite are blowing $100 per at Joe's Stone Crab, across town the common folk are in heaven enjoying their fried mullet with collards and grits for $5. It's divine justice.

Ted Peters is very good. As I have written numerous times here before. But you should know that they only make smoked mullet and not fried mullet. I can't even name off a single place I know that still makes fried mullet.

Just wanted you to know.

John

Ted Peters is great, and Yes, it only has smoked mullet. But since smoked mullet is much more difficult to prepare than fried mullet, a completely different taste, there arguably are more places serving fried mullet than smoked. Mullet is a basic "native" food of Florida, and I'd bet there are hundreds of places serving it daily in the TB area. You won't find it in classy joints, or Cuban restaurants, but certainly most "meat and three" places, or any soul food restaurant will have mullet, if it's available.

IMHO, there is no equal to the exquisite taste of simply prepared fresh mullet - and when you add to this the fact that is perhaps the least expensive fish in the sea, it wins in a landslide! I take great delight in knowing that while the elite are blowing $100 per at Joe's Stone Crab, across town the common folk are in heaven enjoying their fried mullet with collards and grits for $5. It's divine justice.

Another John

Well, I have lived in this area now going on 25 years and consider myself to be a foodie. I also went and checked with a friend who has had a seafood restaurant in south St. Pete for quite a while also. We could only name off one possible place that would serve fried mullet. And this is after my friend checked in with her "soul food" restaurant contacts.

So if you know some particular places, please feel free to offer them up. It would make it easier for the original poster to find it.

This post is not meant to be offensive John. Just to let you know that I don't think these places exist anymore down here.

Sushi Girl, Do you ever visit the real good seafood restaurant on the south side of town? I can heartily recommend them but the name escapes me (I think its on highway 441/25). It's across the street from a popular Thai place where I've also had some good food.

Does Gainesville and vicinity have some roadfood gems we haven't heard of? If so, we'd really like to hear about them.

By the way, you can get smoked mullet and mullet spread in Cedar Key restaurants.

Try Skipper's Smokehouse. It's pretty close to USF. It's been 20 years since I was there, but I noticed it still gets a lot of awards for best seafood in Tampa. I'm not sure what it's like now, but back then it was just a downhome seafood shack, with the best shark and gator I ever tried.

Ted Peter's Smoked Fish - The inviting aroma of wood smoke was present the second I stepped out of the car. I sat down at the nearest wooden picnic table under the awning, and I ordered the smoked mullet dinner. The waitress brought out a plate that was a thing of beauty. A whole mullet, split and smoked over red oak, german potato salad, cole slaw, tomato slice, onion slice, and pickle spear. The mullet was simply the best piece of fish I have ever eaten! It was moist, tender, and wonderfully smoky. Eating smoked mullet at Ted Peter's is a religious experience. I picked out every little piece of meat with my fingers and licked off the divine smoky mullet grease. I went back again a couple of days later and had the mullet again, and I took home a couple of pints of that fabulous smoked fish spread.

Bern's Steak House - Yes, it was expensive, but it was worth it. The steak that I had, a 10 oz filet very rare, is the steak by which all future steaks will be judged. The shredded carrots prepared with grand marnier, sweet potato puree, maraschino cherry juice and almonds were to die for, as was the trilogy of chocolate mousse that I had for dessert. The wine list was awe-inspiring, and the waiter was extremely knowledgeable and helpful.

kbk, It's been so long since I was in The Bay Area that some of the places I knew and loved are probably gone... but I'll give it a try. Silver Ring Sandwich Shop - East Broadway in Ybor City. The best Cuban sandwich in Tampa, unless they've slipped. The Columbia Restaurant - same general area. Spanish food. Remember - Tampa was settled by Asturianos from Spain before the Maine blew up in Havana in 1896, bringing in the first migration of Cubans - and birthing the city's cigar industry! Rentz Diner - East Buffalo Avenue. A breakfast standby. Vermillion Restaurant - North Nebraska Avenue (or is it North Florida Avenue? I always confuse the two!). Good neighborhood eatery. Louis Pappas' Restaurant - the original is on the waterfront in Tarpon Springs. There is at least one newer one. I've never been to Ted Peters' Smoked Mullet - my father, a native Floridian, liked his mullet fried with bacon and hoe cakes and swamp cabbage, which is the old Florida Cracker way of fixing it. The next time I'm in St. Pete, I'll try it... everyone has told me how much they liked it. Columbus Drive West is known locally in Tampa as "Boliche Boulevard." There is a plethora of mom-and-pop Cuban eateries there. Some are, doubtless, better than others. You might want to try my method: to pull over and ask a cop where to eat! I've never been sent to a bad place by a police officer, and in one case I was escorted! - "You'll never find it," the officer said, then added, tossing his hat back on, "What the hell. Follow me. I'll take you there." We wound through the back streets of Tulsa until we emerged at the eatery. It was marvelous. By studying the map, I was able to retrace our route and get to where I needed to go. Sorry to be of so little help contemporarily. Let us know what you turn up. I'll want to return there eventually... great thrift stores and good beer. (If you like the latter, take in Dunedin Brewing!) Gusty-And-Torially, Ort. Carlton in Calm Athens, Georgia.

The Columbia is still there and elsewhere. Fun place to eat unless you get a grumpy waiter. The 1905 salad is great as is the Australian lobster. Little pricey.

Cakes, There's a Columbia Restaurant in St. Augustine where I had a Cuban dinner so good, I returned the next day to do it again. That Columbia's was one of several in the state owned by the same people. Is the Tampa area Columbia part of this group?

Brief description of the St. Augustine place:Columbia Restaurant - Spanish Cuisine since 1905. A big selection of authentic food. A blend of Cuban, South American, Spanish dishes featuring chicken, steak and seafood. Lunch and dinner. $5.95-$20.95 98 St. George Street. (904) 824-3341

Ted Peter's Smoked Fish - The inviting aroma of wood smoke was present the second I stepped out of the car. I sat down at the nearest wooden picnic table under the awning, and I ordered the smoked mullet dinner. The waitress brought out a plate that was a thing of beauty. A whole mullet, split and smoked over red oak, german potato salad, cole slaw, tomato slice, onion slice, and pickle spear. The mullet was simply the best piece of fish I have ever eaten! It was moist, tender, and wonderfully smoky. Eating smoked mullet at Ted Peter's is a religious experience. I picked out every little piece of meat with my fingers and licked off the divine smoky mullet grease. I went back again a couple of days later and had the mullet again, and I took home a couple of pints of that fabulous smoked fish spread.

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions!

Thanks so much for sharing these detailed reports. Before you used the word, "religious", in your description of Ted Peters, I was thinking you might wind up saying that.

Now, I simply must get there sometime.

I'm wondering if you like barbeque and The Woodlands Barbecue Parlor in Blowing Rock, N.C.?

The Columbia is still there and elsewhere. Fun place to eat unless you get a grumpy waiter. The 1905 salad is great as is the Australian lobster. Little pricey.

Sorry you got grumpy service. I assume that was the Ybor location. The last time I ate at the Columbia in St. Pete at the Pier, we had excellent service and in kind, tipped heartily. You may want to try the St. Pete Columbia for a change of pace. Ask for a waterview table...

Ted Peter's Smoked Fish - The inviting aroma of wood smoke was present the second I stepped out of the car. I sat down at the nearest wooden picnic table under the awning, and I ordered the smoked mullet dinner. The waitress brought out a plate that was a thing of beauty. A whole mullet, split and smoked over red oak, german potato salad, cole slaw, tomato slice, onion slice, and pickle spear. The mullet was simply the best piece of fish I have ever eaten! It was moist, tender, and wonderfully smoky. Eating smoked mullet at Ted Peter's is a religious experience. I picked out every little piece of meat with my fingers and licked off the divine smoky mullet grease. I went back again a couple of days later and had the mullet again, and I took home a couple of pints of that fabulous smoked fish spread.

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions!

Thanks so much for sharing these detailed reports. Before you used the word, "religious", in your description of Ted Peters, I was thinking you might wind up saying that.

Now, I simply must get there sometime.

I'm wondering if you like barbeque and The Woodlands Barbecue Parlor in Blowing Rock, N.C.?

I'm wondering if you like barbeque and The Woodlands Barbecue Parlor in Blowing Rock, N.C.?

I like it, but it's not my favorite BBQ place. Truth be told, I haven't found too many BBQ places around these parts--Boone, NC--that really turn me on. I grew up in NW Florida and went to school in Alabama, so the NC style of BBQ isn't what I grew up thinking of as BBQ. I _love_ Sonny's BBQ, and I the best ribs I've ever eaten were at Mark's Feed Store in Louisville, KY.

The Columbia is still there and elsewhere. Fun place to eat unless you get a grumpy waiter. The 1905 salad is great as is the Australian lobster. Little pricey.

Cakes, There's a Columbia Restaurant in St. Augustine where I had a Cuban dinner so good, I returned the next day to do it again. That Columbia's was one of several in the state owned by the same people. Is the Tampa area Columbia part of this group?

Brief description of the St. Augustine place:Columbia Restaurant - Spanish Cuisine since 1905. A big selection of authentic food. A blend of Cuban, South American, Spanish dishes featuring chicken, steak and seafood. Lunch and dinner. $5.95-$20.95 98 St. George Street. (904) 824-3341

Jim and Kristi,

They are all owned by the same people. The one in Sarasota is on St. Armands Circle which is a ritzy shopping area on Lido Key. You won't get the Australian lobster for $20.95!

Most of the waiters in Sarasota have an attitude. That is part of the ambiance. They are proud Latino men. Just once did it interfere with the great food. There is or was a waitstaff member that filled water glasses and such that would do bird calls like a ventriloquist.Once you figured it out it was a lot of fun watching the other people looking around for the birds.

Sushi Girl, Do you ever visit the real good seafood restaurant on the south side of town? I can heartily recommend them but the name escapes me (I think its on highway 441/25). It's across the street from a popular Thai place where I've also had some good food.

Does Gainesville and vicinity have some roadfood gems we haven't heard of? If so, we'd really like to hear about them.

By the way, you can get smoked mullet and mullet spread in Cedar Key restaurants.

Sushi Girl, Do you ever visit the real good seafood restaurant on the south side of town? I can heartily recommend them but the name escapes me (I think its on highway 441/25). It's across the street from a popular Thai place where I've also had some good food.

Does Gainesville and vicinity have some roadfood gems we haven't heard of? If so, we'd really like to hear about them.

By the way, you can get smoked mullet and mullet spread in Cedar Key restaurants.